Open a new incognito window in three clicks
Chrome's incognito mode prevents the browser from storing your search history, cookies, and site data on your computer. When you close an incognito window, Chrome deletes everything from that session. This is useful when you're checking data broker websites, since incognito mode keeps those visits off your browsing history and out of your browser's memory.
The fastest way to open incognito mode is to press Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Command + Shift + N on Mac. A new window will open with a spy icon in the top left corner and the words "You're in incognito mode" displayed. That's all you need to do — you're ready to browse.
If you prefer using the menu instead, open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select "New incognito window" from the dropdown. The incognito window opens when ready and works exactly the same as the keyboard shortcut.
Key Takeaways
- Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving your browsing history, cookies, and site data to your computer.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Command + Shift + N (Mac) to open a new incognito window when ready.
- You can also open incognito mode through the menu by clicking the three dots and selecting "New incognito window".
- When you close an incognito window, Chrome automatically deletes all data from that session.
- Incognito mode keeps your data broker searches separate from your regular browsing history.
What incognito mode does and doesn't hide
Incognito mode stops Chrome from recording what you do inside the browser. Your search queries, the websites you visit, and any passwords you enter in that window won't be saved to your Chrome history or autofill suggestions. Cookies — small files websites use to remember you — are deleted when you close the incognito window.
Incognito mode does not hide your activity from your internet service provider, your employer if you're on a work network, or the websites you visit. Those sites still see your real IP address and know you visited them. If you're on a shared computer, other people with access to that computer can still see that an incognito window was open, though they can't see what you did inside it.
Opening multiple incognito windows at once
You can open as many incognito windows as you need. Each one is separate and independent — cookies and data from one incognito window don't carry over to another. This is useful if you're checking multiple data broker sites and want to keep your searches organized.
Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N (or Command + Shift + N on Mac) each time you want a new incognito window. You can also right-click the Chrome icon in your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac) and select "New incognito window" from the menu that appears.
Switching between incognito and regular browsing
You can have incognito windows and regular Chrome windows open at the same time. Click between them using your taskbar (Windows) or by using Command + Tab (Mac) to switch between open applications. The incognito window will have a spy icon in the top left corner to remind you that you're in private browsing mode.
If you accidentally open a regular window when you meant to open incognito, close it and open a new incognito window instead. There's no way to convert a regular window to incognito or vice versa — you have to close and reopen.
Closing incognito windows and clearing data
Close an incognito window the same way you close any Chrome window: click the X button in the top right corner or press Ctrl + W (Windows) or Command + W (Mac). When you close the window, Chrome automatically deletes all browsing history, cookies, and temporary files from that session. You don't need to manually clear anything.
If you want to close all your incognito windows at once, you can close the entire Chrome process. Press Ctrl + Q (Windows) or Command + Q (Mac) to quit Chrome completely, which closes all windows — both incognito and regular — at the same time.
Checking that you're actually in incognito mode
Look for the spy icon in the top left corner of the window. Next to it, you'll see the text "You're in incognito mode" and a message explaining that Chrome won't save your browsing history. If you don't see this icon and message, you're in a regular Chrome window, not incognito.
This is an straightforward mistake to make when you have multiple windows open. Before you start searching data broker sites, take a second to confirm the spy icon is visible. If it's not there, close the window and open a new incognito window using Ctrl + Shift + N or Command + Shift + N.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does incognito mode stop websites from seeing me?
No. Websites still see your real IP address and know you visited them. Incognito mode only stops Chrome from saving that information on your computer. The website itself has its own records of your visit.
Can someone see that I used incognito mode?
If you're on a shared computer, someone with access to that computer can see that Chrome was open, but they can't see what you did inside the incognito window. Your internet service provider and network administrator can see that you were online, but not which specific sites you visited in incognito mode.
What happens to passwords I enter in incognito mode?
Chrome won't save passwords you enter in incognito mode to your password manager. If you need to log into a data broker site, you'll have to type your password each time. If you want Chrome to remember a password, you'll need to use a regular (non-incognito) window instead.
Can I set Chrome to always open in incognito mode?
Chrome doesn't have a built-in setting to always open in incognito mode. You have to manually open an incognito window each time. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N (or Command + Shift + N on Mac) is the fastest way to do this.
Does closing the incognito window delete everything?
Yes. When you close an incognito window, Chrome automatically deletes all browsing history, cookies, cached images, and temporary files from that session. You don't need to do anything manually — just close the window.